Prosecutor wants three-year ban for Di Luca

The anti-doping prosecutor in Italy has asked the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) anti-doping tribunal to impose a three-year ban on former Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca. The Italian tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO in samples taking during the 2009 Giro on May 20 and 28.

Di Luca, 33, finished the race in second place behind Russian Denis Menchov and continues to maintain his innocence.

The Italian prosecutor, Ettore Torri, has recommended extending the typical two-year sentence to three years for aggravating circumstances per Article 10.6 in the WADA Code. Along with the additional year, he has requested that the rider be fined and be forced to pay costs for the hearings.

If Di Luca is unable to successfully defend his case, the ban will run from July 22 of this year, the date his B-samples were tested.

Before the start of the 2009 Giro d'Italia the race organizers announced that they would be increasing the doping tests for the Italian Grand Tour. Should Di Luca be found guilty, his case will be seen as another step in the right direction towards cleaning up the sport.